Adventureman breaks world treadmill distance record

Britain’s answer to Forrest Gump, fresh from crossing the US, carried on running – and broke the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance covered on a treadmill in a week.

Jamie McDonald, 32, has spent the last seven days in a tent in his home city of Gloucester, running more than 20 hours a day to beat the 513.97 miles (827.15km) set by Marcio Villar in Brazil in 2015.

The tennis coach broke the record with more than two hours to spare and plans to carry on running until 1pm on Monday.

Jamie McDonald and his girlfriend Anna McNuff (left) during his Guinness World Record attempt in Gloucester (Rod Minchin/PA)

Mr McDonald was cheered on by hundreds of supporters who had travelled to Gloucester Quays to watch him enter the record books.

To beat the record he had to run more than 73 miles (117.5km) a day for seven days and was only sleeping for two or three hours a night.

He briefly stopped to address the crowd before continuing his run.

“I’ve done it,” he said, to a massive round of applause.

“I just want to thank you for being here. I’m a proper Gloucester boy, through and through.

“You do know what they say about world records? Not just beaten but they have got to be smashed. I’m going to run as far as I can until 1pm.

“So let’s just have a party.”

Mr McDonald, who suffered from a debilitating immune deficiency and the potentially fatal spinal condition syringomyelia as a child, spent the first nine years of his life in and out of children’s hospitals.

Jamie McDonald´s father Donald cheers him on during his Guinness World Record attempt (Rod Minchin/PA)

It is the latest stamina-defying feat by Mr McDonald, who runs as his alter-ego Adventureman.

In March, he completed a 5,500-mile (8,851km), 210-marathon coast-to-coast fundraising run across the US unsupported.

He battled through desolate and lonely deserts, sub-zero temperatures and the constant threat of wild animals, injuries and the uncertain elements.

He has previously run across Canada dressed as superhero The Flash.

Jamie McDonald during his 5,500-mile, 210- marathon coast-to-coast run across the US (Jamie McDonald/PA)

Mr McDonald came to prominence in 2012 when he cycled 14,000 miles (22,531km) from Bangkok to Gloucester on a £50 second-hand bike.

Just weeks after returning to Gloucester, he set a new world record for cycling non-stop on a static bike.

In February 2013, two months after setting the new world record, he began his run across Canada.